Bilal Bashir Bhat
Follow @bilalbashirbhat
Srinagar, April 18 (KNB): An online campaign agency has raised the amount of two million rupees with reference to Kathua’s rape-and-murder of an eight-year-old nomadic Muslim Bakerwal community girl in a bid to help family to pursue the case. However, the lawyers’ panel fighting for the justice of the Kathua victim has said that they are pleading the case free of cost and need no money.

The online fundraising agency ‘Crowdnewsing’ in its latest campaign stated to raise funds jointly for Kathua and Unnao victims under which they managed to raise an amount of Rs 40,61,970 from 1573 contributors with highest contribution from Bollywood actor and comedian Vir Das.

Talking to Kashmir News Bureau (KNB) Mr. Anand Mangnale, Director and Co-Founder Crowdnewsing said the total amount of 40,61,970 will be equally distributed among the families of Kathua and Unnao victims to pursue their cases.

“The amount raised by our campaign stands in the official account of Crowdnewsing and as soon as the amount gets liquidated by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) the families of both victims will get the amount in form of cheques,” Mangnale added.

Meanwhile, talking to Kashmir News Bureau, one of the Kathua victim’s lawyers Advocate Talib Hussain said they are pleading the case free of cost, adding, it is the campaign of RSS under which some elements like Waqar Bhatti, Nazakat Khatana and others are trying to malign the credibility of our team and Shehla Rashid.

When asked how they managed the costs of traveling and other logistic help in the case, Talib said that ‘All Tribal Coordination Committee’ to which he is also the Chairman takes care of their financial assistance, adding a defamation case will be filed soon against the culprits trying to divert the issue.

Talib Hussain also thanked people of Kashmir and particularly media for their unflinching support to raise this issue which forced authorities to act instantly.

Meanwhile, talking to Kashmir News Bureau, Salman Nizami who offered the free accommodation to the victim family said there was no need to raise money in this case as it fought by the state itself, adding, some people are taking benefit over the pain of the victim family.

When contacted Waqar Bhatti he preferred not to talk citing the reason ‘busy in protests.’ (KNB)